Littmann Cardiology III Stethoscope

Littmann cardiology III stethoscope. This outstanding, versatile stethoscope features two patented tunable diaphragms (adult and pediatric) for listening to both low and high frequency sounds. Designed for acoustical excellence, the “two-tubes-in-one design” eliminates noise artifact that can be created by the tubes rubbing together. The pediatric side of the chest piece easily converts to a traditional bell by simply replacing the diaphragm with the nonchill bell sleeve included with each stethoscope. Features a solid stainless steel chest piece, nonchill rims, adjustable double-leaf binaural spring and patented Littmann soft-sealing ear tips. Includes a five-year warranty.

Littmann Cardiology III Stethoscope Features

Cardiology – high performance adult and pediatric

Features two-tubes-in-one-design

Five-year warranty

Littmann soft-sealing ear tips

Length 27″

Littmann Cardiology III Stethoscope Reviews

I’ve used this model through med school, residency, and 3 years of practice. I’ve used others from time to time, but I’ve never purchased another model. I was told early on that this is the one to get, and it’s still the model that my cardiologist friends use today.

Pros: It’s simply the stethoscope to beat. Top of the line unless you want to go electronic, and you will be mocked if you go electronic.
Cons: It is a little pricey and you probably don’t need it if you are just checking blood pressures. The tubing is prone to cracking if you wear it around your neck a lot. According to Littmann’s site, it’s a non-latex polymer that tends to react with the oils in human skin. The tubing gets stiff and then cracks when you extend it straight to use it. The one I’m replacing has about 6 cracks (over about 3-4 years), one of which got bad enough to decrease the sound. Littmann recommends that you use something like armorall once a month. It won’t stop the problem, but should slow it down. (I can’t really blame Littman for this, most stethoscopes get this eventually.)

The Cardiology III has been a solid workhorse for me for two and a half years of ER nursing. I bought a second to replace my Cards III that someone “borrowed.” The dual head lets me switch it up for pediatrics and adults, and lets me auscultate pulmonary apices in the emaciated or slightly built adult, where the apices are hidden in the “divots” between the clavicle and the trapezius. In general, the sound quality is far superior to the Littmann Classic; there is no comparison in this regard.
My one complaint might be that stethoscopes, perhaps in general, don’t handle high strength cleansing wipes well. I’ve noted that the tuning rim of the diaphragms is breaking down on my first Cards III, which I assume is due to using cleansers like Metriguard and CaviWipes, which I need after patients with isolation precautions. The outer rubber bell sleeve is fine, however, so the stethoscope isn’t falling apart, or anything. The alternative, a little alcohol swab, just doesn’t cut it for cleaning up.

I’ve had my green one since med school, all through residency (I’ve admitted God knows how many patients with it in the ER at 3 AM), and am still using it at my current job in private practice. It’s definitely not cheap, but you can hear a lot of murmurs, rubs, gallops and clicks that you can’t hear with other brands (or even the less expensive Littmans, like the Classic IIe). You are also able to hear wheezing and rales better with this model than with others. If you take good care of it (i.e. don’t leave it in your car on a hot summer day) it will take care of you! Durability is excellent. I’ve used mine on hundreds of patients already, and I can still hear every murmur as clearly as the day I took it out of the box 6 years ago! When you see a bunch of med students and residents walking all over the hospital with the Cards-III around their neck, it’s not just a fad! They can hear the difference, too!